16 bean or Calico Bean soup is a crockpot staple recipe. Next time you are in the bean aisle of the grocery store, pick up a bag of beans and throw them into your slow cooker! It's an easy recipe that is super frugal and quite filling!
Originally posted during my Year of Slow Cooking.
Day 99.
I have walked by the bags of soup mix in the grocery store a hundred million times. I've even picked one up, read the print on the bag, and taken it for a ride in the shopping cart.
But then I chicken out and put it back on the shelf with it's friends.
It just seemed like a lot of work.
I, um, actually don't really enjoy work.
I'd really like a house full of forest creatures like in Snow White or in Enchanted to come do it all for me so I can spin around in circles singing.
So far the closest I've gotten to that dream is a six-year-old wearing a two-sizes-too-small rooster Halloween costume running around with a feather duster...
but it's a nice dream, nonetheless.
Okay, back to the soup. I was ecstatic when April emailed me to let me know about the 16-bean soup her amazing daughter Alecksandra makes in the crockpot.
By herself. And she's eight. And she probably doesn't even shed.
Alecksandra rocks.
The Ingredients.
serves 8 to `10
Alecksandra's version:
1 bag of soup mix
1 onion
1 packet of onion soup mix
water
--cook on low all day long
I didn't have any onion soup mix in the house.
And since I wasn't expecting any woodland creatures yesterday, I made due with what I had in the pantry.
The Ingredients.
serves 8 to 10, freezes well.
1 bag of soup mix (READ LABEL carefully if avoiding gluten. Many varieties use Barley inside; Bobs Red Mill is a good choice, it has 13 Beans.)
1 onion, peeled and diced
3 cloves chopped garlic
2 teaspoons of your favorite spice rub
(OR: 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon paprika)
1 (15 ounce)can of Italian-style tomatoes
6 to 8 cups water or broth
Kosher salt (add the salt at the last minute, a teaspoon at a time, according to taste)
(OPTIONAL: if you'd like meat, you can use a leftover hamhock and 1 cup diced ham. OR you can add a package of two of smoked sausage. I usually have the Aidell's brand in the house because they are gluten free. We like chicken and apple sausage and cajun-style -- I use a package of each just because it provides tons of flavor.)
It is up to you how much water you use. If you want more broth, use more water, if you want it thick and beany, use less. If you want to use broth and ooomph up the flavor, go for it.
The Directions.
For best results, put the beans into a large stock pot and fill with cold water. Bring this pot to a boil for ten minutes, and then remove it from the heat, cover, and let the beans sit and soften for 1 hour before plopping into a 6-quart crockpot.
This is also important to do if your soup mix has any red beans in them.
Red beans have a naturally-occurring potential toxin. It is rare, but boiling for 10 minutes will kill anything that might be lurking.
Drain the beans, and place them into your empty slow cooker.
Add the rest of the ingredients -- stir to combine.
Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or even longer --
Soup tastes the best the longer you cook it, and it tastes even better the next day.
The Verdict.
this was healthy, filling and flavorful. I am thrilled to have lunch for the next week. The kids picked out their favorite beans and liked that I sprinkled parmesan on top.
I can't wait until they can yield a knife like Alecksandra!
I served the soup along with corndog muffins (simply your favorite cornbread recipe made into muffins with
chopped up hot dogs; yum!).
If you are new to slow cooking or have any burning (simmering? HA!) questions about crockpotting, this article, Slow Cooker Buying Guide & Must-Have Beginner Supplies from All Free Slow Cooker recipes is a fantastic resource!!
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FAQs
GOYA® 16 Bean Soup Mix is part of the wide variety of GOYA® dry beans. This fantastic blend contains 16 varieties of beans, from pinto, white, pink, red, and kidney to chickpeas, pigeon peas, lima beans, butter beans, peas, and lentils.
Can you put a tin of beans in the slow cooker? ›
Delicious homemade slow cooker baked beans even better than the ones you grew up on! This easy baked beans recipe uses three types of canned beans, is perfectly sweet with a kick of heat if you'd like, and is easily made vegetarian.
How can I thicken my 15 bean soup? ›
To thicken the broth in bean soup, you can try the following methods:
- Mashing a Portion of Beans: Gently mash a portion of the cooked beans against the side of the pot. ...
- Addition of Cornstarch or Flour: Create a slurry by mixing equal parts cornstarch or flour with water. ...
- Use of Potato Flakes or Mash.
15 BEAN SOUP® is low in fat, high in fiber, kosher, and easily feeds your family for under $1.00 per serving. Great for stove top, slow cooker, or pressure cooker.
What thickens bean soup? ›
Yes, you can use flour to thicken bean soup. Start by making a slurry with flour and cold water, then add it to the soup and stir well. Allow the soup to simmer for a few minutes to cook out any raw flour taste.
Do you drain canned beans for bean soup? ›
"It's fine to add the bean liquid to many recipes, but if you want to reduce the amount of sodium, it's best to drain and rinse canned beans," the website states. "A 2009 study conducted at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, showed that draining beans removes, on average, 36 percent of the sodium in canned beans.
Why not to cook beans in slow cooker? ›
When preparing dried red kidney beans, the FDA recommends soaking them overnight, then boiling them for a 30 minutes. Since most slow cookers do not reach the boiling point (212°F), beans prepared in them without soaking and cooking them first will carry the toxic lectin.
Why not slow cook beans? ›
The low temperatures of a slow cooker may not heat them sufficiently. Red Kidney Bean Poisoning, as it's named by the FDA, has a rapid onset and the severity of symptoms is related to the amount of contaminated beans that are consumed.
Will canned beans get mushy in a slow cooker? ›
Do canned beans get mushy in the slow cooker? Canned beans hold up very well in the slow cooker, believe it or not! The sauce is a perfect consistency; the flavor is excellent and only gets better with the other ingredients. It's no different than baking them.
What if my bean soup needs more flavor? ›
Try adding some acidity. A splash of lemon juice or a tablespoon of white wine vinegar can brighten the flavors of the soup.
Sometimes soup just needs to simmer longer to reach the perfect consistency. Check to see if the vegetables are tender, and then taste the broth. If the soup tastes a bit watery, give it more time.
How do you make 15 bean soup less gassy? ›
To cut down on the gassy properties, you can add a little baking soda to your recipe. The baking soda helps break down some of the beans' natural gas-making sugars.
Can you eat bean soup everyday? ›
In conclusion, beans are a versatile and incredibly nutritious food that can benefit both your body and mind. Regular consumption of beans has been linked to a reduced risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer, while also aiding in controlling blood sugar levels and promoting digestive health.
Is it healthy to eat bean soup everyday? ›
Absolutely, bean soup can be a fantastic addition to your daily diet, but like everything, it should be consumed in moderation and as part of a balanced diet. Rich in Fiber: Beans are a stellar source of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion and helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
Are navy beans and Great Northern the same? ›
Larger than Navy Beans but smaller than Cannellini beans, medium-sized Great Northern beans are known for their mild, nutty flavor and firm flesh. Great in soups and stews, they hold their shape better than Navy beans, take on the flavors of the foods they're cooked with, and are commonly used in French cassoulets.
What are common beans for soup? ›
While soup beans are traditionally pinto beans (called brown beans in the mountain region), other types of beans are also used.
- White beans — Great northern beans and Navy beans are often used to make a soup bean dish. ...
- Butter beans — butter beans are used to make the soup bean dish called butter beans.
Heinz Baked Beans are produced by sealing raw haricot beans and tomato sauce in the cans, which are then placed in large pressure cookers. This gives the sauce its thick consistency and ensures a long shelf life for the product. A standard 415g can will contain an average of 465 beans.
What's the difference between white beans and navy beans? ›
Due to their creamy white color, navy beans are sometimes confused with other white beans such as great northern beans, cannellini beans, or white kidney beans. Although their taste is similar, navy beans are smaller and rounder than these other varieties.
